Cash handling device-to-cash handling device money movement

ABSTRACT

A cash handling device includes one or more universal cartridges storing cash which may be swapped between different types of cash handling devices. The swapping of universal cartridges may allow for improved efficiency when a cash handling device is detected to have a need for additional currency, removal of surplus currency, removal of unfit currency, and other services.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of cash handling devices which existtoday to serve many different functions. For example, Automated TellerMachines (ATMs) are available as a convenient conduit for withdrawingand depositing cash. ATMs may be strategically placed in areas thefinancial institution believes to be the most convenient or popular tousers. Another example of a cash handling device is a self-servicepayment machine found in grocery stores, gas stations, and the like.Such devices may allow a user to pay for purchases without waiting for acashier to scan and/or input the cost of items and to receive payment.While these cash handling devices may differ in a number of ways, theyalso share similarities including receiving and dispensing cash.

Typically, cash handling devices are mechanically distinct enough fromone another that they each have their own system and configuration forcash storage. However, such cash handling devices, while functional,become costly to replace and do not lend themselves to be compatiblewith other cash handling devices, thus raising costs to produce and/orpurchase replacement parts. Moreover, non-compatibility of parts such ascartridges storing money may require valuable time to move cash from onetype of cash handling device to another type.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not anextensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identifykey or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope ofthe invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts ofthe invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the descriptionbelow.

Aspects of this invention relate to a universal cartridge. The cartridgemay be configured to be used with a plurality of different cash handlingdevices such as ATMs, cash recyclers, point of sale systems, and thelike. The universal cartridge may be configured to permit exchange ofcartridges between various types of cash handling devices to promoteefficiency in replenishing or removing funds from one or more types ofcash handling devices. In some arrangements, the cartridges may includea radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that includes informationidentifying the cartridge and may include other information associatedwith the cartridge or the contents of the cartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitedin the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicatesimilar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment inwhich various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented.

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified diagram of a currency recycler inaccordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates various features of a currency recycler that may beused in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system configuration that may be used in accordancewith an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an environment wherein the process of automaticallygenerating a change order may be used in accordance with one or moreaspects of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of dynamic inventory management viainterchangeable cartridges in accordance with one or more aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the versatility of a cartridge inaccordance with one or more aspects of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary scenario of swapping universalcartridges by an agent in accordance with one or more aspects of theinvention.

The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarilydrawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to cash handling devices. Cashhandling devices generally refer to devices that are configured toaccept and/or dispense currency. Cash handling devices include ATMs,point of sale devices, self-service payment cash handling device, retaildeposit only machines, retail cash recyclers, vending machines, retaildeposit only smart safe, bank center cash recyclers and the like. Somecash handling devices may be currency recyclers, which generally referto cash handling devices that are configured to dispense the samecurrency that was earlier deposited. For example, if a user deposits a 5dollar bill into a cash recycler machine, the same 5 dollar bill may bedispensed during a subsequent withdrawal transaction. Thus, usingcurrency recyclers, deposited currency may be placed immediately backinto use and circulation instead of being held or frozen until a bank isable to collect and reconcile the funds, stored indefinitely and/ortaken out of circulation entirely as is the case with other current cashhandling devices.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment inwhich various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. Devices 102,104, 106 may include currency recyclers and/or other cash handlingdevices and may be located at various sites such as locations 101, 103,and 105. The locations may represent different stores of a businessenterprise. For example, locations 101, 103, and 105 may represent threedifferent grocery stores located in different geographical areasbelonging to a grocery store chain. Those skilled in the art willrealize that additional cash handling devices may be located in the samestore or in other stores belonging to the grocery store chain. Inaddition, those skilled in the art will realize that a grocery storechain is only one illustrative example of the types of locations orbusinesses that cash handling devices such as recyclers may be located.For example, cash recyclers may also be located in gas stations, postoffices, department stores, and other places where cash and otherfinancial instruments are deposited or withdrawn.

FIG. 1 further illustrates that cash handling devices 102, 104, and 106may be connected to a communications network such as communicationsnetwork 120. Communications network 120 may represent: 1) a local areanetwork (LAN); 2) a simple point-to-point network (such as directmodem-to-modem connection); and/or 3) a wide area network (WAN),including the Internet and other commercial based network services.

Cash handling devices 102, 104, and 106 may communicate with one anotheror with a financial institution such as bank 130 via communicationnetwork 120 in various manners. For example, communications between cashhandling devices 102, 104, 106 and bank 130 may use protocols andnetworks such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP, BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, ultrawide band (UWB), low power radio frequency (LPRF), radio frequencyidentification (RFID), infrared communication, IrDA, third-generation(3G) cellular data communications, Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM), or other wireless communication networks or thelike. Communications network 120 may be directly connected to afinancial institution such as bank 130. In another embodiment,communications network 120 may be connected to a second network orseries of networks 140 such as an interbank network before beingconnected to bank 130. According to one or more arrangements, bank 130may utilize an infrastructure which includes a server 150 havingcomponents such as a memory, a processor, a display, and a communicationinterface.

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified diagram of a cash recycler that may beused in accordance with the operating environment of FIG. 1. Cashrecycler 200 may include processor 201, memory 203, communicationinterface 205, scanning unit 207, display 213 and various cartridges 215and recycling units 217. Processor 201 may be generally configured toexecute computer-readable instructions stored in memory 203 such that,for example, cash recycler 200 may send and receive information to andfrom a bank (e.g., bank 130 of FIG. 1) using communication interface 205and via a network (e.g., networks 120 and/or 140 of FIG. 1). Memory 203may be configured to store a variety of information including theaforementioned computer-readable instructions, funds balance data,reconciliation data, user account information and the like.Additionally, memory 203 may include non-volatile and/or volatilememory. One or more databases may be stored in the memories 108, 112,and 116.

Cash recycler 200 may further provide display 213 to present data and/ormessages to a user. For example, display 213 may be configured todisplay a recycler balance, a transaction interface, a current depositcount, security options, transportation options and the like. One ormore input devices 254 such as a keypad, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen,fingerprint scanner, retinal scanner, proximity card reader, RFIDscanner and/or writer, magnetic card reader, barcode reader, and/orcombinations thereof, or any other type of input device or readercapable of inputting, reading, or scanning indicia or information, mayalso be included in or connected to recycler 200. One or printers 256may also be included in or connected to recycler 200 for printingreceipts and notifications as well.

In cash recycler 200, recycling units 217 and cartridges 215 areconfigured to store currency. Currency may be inserted through inputslot 209 and withdrawn through withdrawal slot 211. Recycling units 217,including stackers, rolled storage modules, and the like, may be used tostore and organize currency based on denomination. For example, all $5bills may be stored in recycling unit 2 (i.e., recycling unit 217A)while all $20 bills may be stored in recycling unit 3 (i.e., recyclingunit 217B). Cartridges 215A and 215B, on the other hand, may be used tostore overflow currency and/or currency for transport. Thus, ifrecycling units 217 become full, additional currency that is depositedinto recycler 200 may be stored in an overflow cartridge such ascartridge 215B. One of cartridges 215A or B may be designated as atransport cartridge that stores currency to be withdrawn from themachine and transported to the bank. Alternatively or additionally, oneor more of cartridges 215 may be used as an unfit bill store forcurrency determined to be defective. Cartridges 215 and recycling units217 may further be removable for easier access or transport.

Scanning unit 207 may be configured to scan each bill or currency thatis inserted into recycler 200. Scanning unit 207 may be configured todetect defects, invalid reproductions, denomination, type of currency(e.g., which country the currency originates from) and the like.Scanning unit 207 may further be configured to refuse money (eitherthrough input slot 209 or withdrawal slot 211) if it cannot be properlyrecognized or if the currency is deemed to be an invalid reproduction.Scanning unit 207 may send such data to processor 201 which may, inturn, save the data in memory 203. In addition, scanning unit 207 may beconfigured to scan checks or other non-currency paper items, in additionto paper currency.

Further, recycler 200 may include one or more mechanical orelectromechanical systems (not shown) for automatically transferringcurrency between stackers 217, cartridges 215, input slot 209 andwithdrawal slot 211 in recycler 200. For example, currency mayautomatically be withdrawn from recycling units 217 and directed intocartridge 215A for storage using a series of motorized rollers. Inanother example, currency stored in cartridge 215A may be withdrawn andorganized and stored into recycling units 217 according to denomination.Using such systems to facilitate the automated movement of currencybetween storage components and other portions of recycler 200 mayprovide efficiency and security by alleviating some of the need tomanually handle currency stored within recycler 200. In addition, thecartridges (215A and B) and recycling units (217A and B) may beconfigured to include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (notshown) and recycler 200 may include a RFID reader (also not shown). ThisRFID reader may be internal to the cash handling device and may bedifferent than the RFID reader discussed above as an input reader. TheRFID reader may be able to read stored information on the RFID tags andmay further be able to edit information stored on the RFID tags. Forexample, accounting of the different denominations withdrawn andinputted to a cartridge or recycling unit may be performed at least inpart based on the information stored on the RFID tag. If a $20 bill isdispensed from a recycling unit, the RFID tag corresponding to therecycling unit may be updated to reflect the current number of $20 billswithin the cash handling device.

FIG. 3 illustrates various features of cash recycler, such as cashrecycler 200 of FIG. 2, used in various aspects of the invention. Theimages in FIG. 3 depict use of a single cash recycler 200 in a retailenvironment. The retail owner may have a cash recycler 200 located ineach of their stores. In an aspect of the invention, summary informationfor the retail owner's stores may be available via an interface to thefinancial institution. In another embodiment, access to summaryinformation may be available directly from each of the cash recyclers200.

In FIG. 3, image 302 depicts customer 303 paying cash to a retailemployee such as store cashier 305 for a purchase. Another store cashier307 at a recently closed cash register may be carrying a cash drawer ortill 308 to a back office for reconciliation. In image 310, storecashier 307 may load currency from cash register till 308 into cashrecycler 200. In addition, store cashier 307 may also deposit otherpaper forms of payment received from customer such as checks. An officemanager 311 may be supervising cashier 307 during the loading of cashregister till 308 into cash recycler 200. Moreover, upon the start of ashift a cashier may fill his/her cash register till with a designatedamount of currency dispensed from cash recycler 200.

In image 306 of FIG. 3, a display screen (e.g., display 213 of cashrecycler 200 of FIG. 2) may show the total amount entered into cashrecycler 200 from till 308. The display screen 213 may breakout theamount entered into cash recycler 200 by denomination and by eachcashier. The total amount deposited and withdrawn from cash recycler 200may be shown on display screen 213.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system configuration that may be used in accordancewith an aspect of the invention. In FIG. 4 a cash recycler 402 maycommunicate information to cash recycler service 404 located at a remotelocation. For example, cash recycler 402 may communicate deposit andwithdrawal information from an enterprise location (e.g., a retailstore) to the remote cash recycler service 404. The information may berouted through various networks such as the Internet to reach the cashrecycler service. The cash recycler service 404 may be located in thedata center of a financial institution. The cash recycler service 404may communicate with an integration system 406 which provides access tothe financial systems and processes. The integration system 406 maycommunicate with a memo posting system 408 which may perform postingactivity. The posting system 408 may update the appropriate DDA (directdeposit account) system 410 to reflect the balance changes in theenterprises account balances. The DDA system 410 may also update atransaction repository 412 for historical and intra-day reportingpurposes. An enterprise employee may access information stored in thetransaction repository 412 through a client access channel 414 via webbrowser. Those skilled in the art will realize that the financialinstitution may allow the enterprise user to access the informationstored in the transaction repository via numerous alternativecommunication methods.

According to one aspect, cash recyclers such as cash recycler 102(FIG. 1) and 200 (FIG. 2) and other cash handling devices may facilitatereal-time recognition of funds. In particular, funds deposited at arecycler or other cash handling device at a client site may berecognized by a bank at the time the deposit is made. Recognition refersto the real credit (i.e., not provisional) of deposited funds into aclient's account. In contrast to current systems, there is no delaybetween a deposit of funds and when the funds and transaction data aresubmitted to the bank for recognition. Thus, instead of having to waituntil the end of the day or another prescheduled time for depositsand/or withdrawals to be recognized by the bank, each deposit isprocessed for recognition in real-time. Data regarding the withdrawal ordeposit transaction may be transmitted through a data network to thebank for recognition and processing. Providing real-time recognitionoffers may advantages including the ability for a client to withdraw thesame currency that was earlier deposited for use in the client'soperations, all at the client site and without having to first transportthe deposited funds to the bank for recognition. Currency recyclers,recycling management and recognition of funds are further described inU.S. application Ser. No. 11/614,656, entitled “Commercial CurrencyHandling and Servicing Management,” filed on Dec. 21, 2006, and U.S.application Ser. No. 12/241,385 entitled “Immediate Recognition ofFinancial Transactions,” and filed on Sep. 30, 2008, the content of eachbeing incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

According to one aspect, the cash handling device may generate a requestfor additional funds, i.e., funds of a particular denomination, or forremoval of surplus funds to a cash processing center, such as afinancial institution. The phrase “change order” as used herein may beused to describe a request for additional funds or a request for removalof surplus funds. FIG. 5 illustrates an environment wherein the processof automatically generating a change order may be used according to oneor more aspects described herein. Details of such a process is furtherdescribed in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/241,390 entitled “ForecastingLevels of Currency Usage and need,” filed Oct. 2, 2008, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additionaldetails relating to currency balancing or rebalancing are included inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/183,737, entitled “TransportationWithdrawal and Rebalance of Cash Handling Device” and filed on Jul. 31,2008, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/241,196, entitled“Transportation Withdrawal and Inventory Verification of Cash HandlingDevice” and filed on Sep. 30, 2008, the content of each beingincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Referring back to FIG. 5, cash handling device 510 may be located in aclient site, such as retail store 500. A user 505 may interact with cashhandling device 510 in order to configure and/or conduct transactions atcash handling device 510. In addition, cash handling device 510 maycommunicate with various locations and/or remote devices, such ascomputers, mobile devices, point of sale systems, and the like vianetwork 535.

In one or more configurations, a cash handling device 510 may beconfigured to communicate with a financial institution computer 525across the network 535. Financial institution computer 525 may belocated in a financial institution, such as a bank 515, and financialinstitution computer 525 may have database 530 stored therein. A bankemployee 520 may interact with financial institution computer 525 inperforming various functions, such as account management.

In some arrangements, a universal cartridge configured to have a sizeand shape to allow the cartridge to be inserted into a cash handlingdevice (e.g., cash handling device 510) and to hold or carry cash (e.g.,as a storage module for cash). The cartridge may be made of a materialsuch a metal, plastic or a combination of these and/or other materials.The universal cartridge may be used in a plurality of different cashhandling devices such as cash recyclers. Universal cartridge providesease of replacement in several different cash recycling units because acartridge may be removed from one unit and replaced with a universalcartridge, rather than requiring replacement with a cartridge specificto that cash recycler.

In other arrangements, a plurality of different types of cash handlingdevices, such as ATMs, cash recyclers, point of sale systems, and thelike may use the same or substantially similar universal cartridge. Inone example, one cartridge from an ATM may be removed and inserted intoanother ATM, point of sale system, or any other cash handling device. Inanother example, the universal cartridge may be ported onto a dockingstation. Once docked into the station, the cartridge may receive and/ordispense cash. Such combinations are endless and allow for increasedflexibility and uniformity with respect to cartridge replacement. Inconventional systems, each different type of cash handling device hasits own type of storage module or cartridge thereby preventing a storagemodule from one type of cash handling device to replace a storage modulein another type of cash handling device. However, the universalcartridge described herein may be used in any type of cash handlingdevice, thereby providing ease of replacement or exchange of cartridgesbetween different types of devices.

In one aspect, older cash handling device may be retrofitted to acceptuniversal cartridges. For example, an older model of an ATM which onlyuses one specific model of a cartridge may be adapted to accept theuniversal cartridges.

In another aspect, cartridges may be interchangeable (e.g., may beinserted and removed) between cash handling devices from differentmanufacturers, different model years, and the like. For example, acartridge may be compatible with an older model of Company A's ATM (year1990 version), a newer model of Company A's ATM (year 2000 version), anolder model of Company B's Point of Sale Device (year 1995 version), anda newer model of Company B's Point of Sale Device (year 2008 version).

In some arrangements, the cash handling device 510 may communicate withthe financial institution, such as the computer 525, via network 535 toindicate to computer 525 that there currently exists, or is predicted toexist, a shortage of cash, including currency or coins of one or moredenominations, as well as to determine whether there is a predictedshortage of currency or coins of one or more denominations. In additionor alternatively, the cash handling device 510 may automaticallygenerate a change order and communicate with the financial institutioncomputer 525 across the network 535 to submit the change order to afinancial institution for processing and fulfillment. Further, the cashhandling device 510 may communicate with the financial institutioncomputer 525 across the network 535 to trigger debiting of one or moreaccounts at an associated financial institution or to receive billsand/or coins of one or more denominations pursuant to anautomatically-generated change order. In still other arrangements, thecash recycler 510 may communicate with the financial institutioncomputer 525 across the network 535 to reconcile a request for morebills or coins of one or more denominations.

After a request for a change order is made, for example, according toFIG. 5, the order may be fulfilled by the financial institution to whichthe change order was submitted. FIG. 6 illustrates a method of dynamicinventory management via interchangeable cartridges. At step 600, acomputer, e.g., a bank computer (such as financial institution computer525 in FIG. 5) at a central cash processing center may receive a requestthat a cash handling device, e.g., cash recycler 510 has either asurplus or a deficiency of bills and/or coins of one or moredenominations. In one example, the bank computer may receive a requestfrom a particular cash handling device. Alternatively, the bank computervia a network may monitor in real time the denominations of cash withineach cash handling device connected to the network and may determinesurpluses and deficiencies based on the monitored levels.

At step 605, a cartridge containing the required cash (e.g., where thechange order indicates a deficiency) or an empty cartridge (e.g., wherethe change order indicates a surplus) is prepared. Preparation mayinclude ensuring that the cartridge meets monetary requirements (e.g.,that the cartridge has been filled with the correct number of bills ofthe particular denominations) and may further include ensuring that thecartridge meets quality requirements (e.g., that each part of thecartridge is in usable shape). Additionally, preparing the cartridge mayinclude scanning a RFID tag on a cartridge to identify the cartridge andto edit information on the RFID tag associated with the cartridge, suchas to update which cash handling device the cartridge is intended for,how much cash is inside the cartridge, denominations of the cash insidethe cartridge, identification of the cartridge to be replaced (if any)at the cash handling device, and the like. The RFID tag may also storeinformation useful for accounting such as account numbers, vaultinformation, and the like.

At step 610, a sequential inventory/transportation plan detailing whichcartridges are to be removed from which cash recyclers and whichcartridges are to be inserted into which recyclers is prepared. The planmay include servicing any number of cash handling devices. For example,such a plan may simply schedule just replacing one cartridge at a cashhandling device or the plan may schedule replacing multiple cartridgesin a plurality of different cash handling devices located in one generalarea or several areas. The schedule may be customized according to anynumber of schemes based on efficiency, urgency, or any other criteriaset forth by the financial institution. The plan may also include atiming schedule, a driving route, and the like. In one example, the cashhandling device may separate low quality currency or currency otherwiseunfit for circulation (e.g., bills with rips, tape, writing, and thelike) in a cartridge and request removal. In such a situation, theremoval may be a low priority removal and may be scheduled afterreplenishing and/or collecting surplus cash from other cash handlingdevices. The plan may also account for malfunctioning cartridges and maydeem request for the replacement of malfunctioning cartridges to be ofthe highest priority. In these situations, the retrieved malfunctioningcartridges may be delivered to a service center for diagnostic tests andrepairs.

The transportation plan may be sent to an agent, such as a transportcarrier, for transporting the cartridges to the appropriate recyclers atstep 615. In response, the agent, such as agent 800 in FIG. 8, may pickup the prepared cartridges at the central cash processing center and mayexecute the instructions set forth in the transportation plan. The word“agent” may be used interchangeably with “cash-in-transit” or “transportcarrier” and may include a team of agents performing the tasks set forthin the transportation plan. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates a scenariowhere cash handling device A 815 (e.g., an ATM) may report a surplus of$20 bills and request that universal cartridge A 820 housing the surplusof $20 bills be replaced. Cash handling device B 825 (e.g., a point ofsale device) may report a deficiency of $20 bills and a surplus of $5bills and may request that universal cartridge B 830 housing the surplusof $5 bills be replaced. In this scenario, the plan may instruct theagent to retrieve empty universal cartridge 810 from bank center 805 fordelivery to cash handling device A 815 and to replace universalcartridge A 820 with the empty universal cartridge 810. The plan maythen instruct agent 800 to replace universal cartridge B 830 of cashhandling device B 825 with universal cartridge A 820, and finally, theplan may instruct the agent to return universal cartridge B 830 to bankcenter 805 where the universal cartridge may be stored and/or preparedfor delivery to a cash handling device requiring the cartridge. In oneaspect, cash handling device A and cash handling device B may be anycash handling device such as, but are not limited to ATMs,Point-of-sales, and the like. Additionally, cash handling device A maybe the same or different type of cash handling device as compared tocash handling device B.

Alternatively, each retrieved cartridge may be delivered to a bankcenter, e.g., the central cash processing center for preparation beforethe cartridge is re-used at a different or same cash handling device.

Referring back to FIG. 6, at step 620, the cash handling device maytransmit notification to the bank computer that the prepared cartridgehas been successfully inserted and confirm that the cash handling devicerequest has been completed. The cash handling device may also transmitinformation for accounting purposes such as how much cash was receivedin the prepared cartridge or how much cash was in the removed cartridge,and the like. A RFID tag located on the cartridge may be used to storesome of the transmitted information such as how much cash is incartridge.

At optional step 625, the computer may update accounting correspondingto the replacement of the cartridge and may remove the completed requestor requests from a task list or may otherwise designate the requests as“completed”.

In another aspect, the transportation plan may be constructed or revisedin real time in connection with cash inventory levels at the differentcash handling devices and may be communicated to a carrier via, forexample, a mobile device such as a laptop, hand-held computer, a mobilephone, and the like. By utilizing real-time inventory levels, updates tothe transportation plan may improve the efficiency of cash transfers,e.g., replenishing or retrieving surplus cash. By monitoring inventorylevels, carriers may be advised of servicing needs throughout the day.In addition, there may be real-time assessments of a particular carrierunit. For example, as change orders are requested by a cash handlingdevice, a central processing center may determine whether a particularcarrier unit is in the local area using e.g., Global Positioning System(GPS) and if so, whether the particular carrier unit has sufficient cashand/or cartridges to handle the request.

In another aspect, the cartridges may be “smart cartridges.” Smartcartridges may be configured to determine the real-time inventory levelsat the time of servicing and may replenish or withdraw surplus funds asappropriate. For example, if an ATM has requested one hundred additional$20 bills, but between the request and the replenishment, a user hasdeposited ten $20 bills, at the time of replenishment, the smartcartridge may determine that only ninety $20 bills are needed and maydeposit ninety $20 bills into the ATM. The remaining 10 $20 bills maybe, for example, held as surplus at the smart cartridge or may bedispensed to the carrier unit for delivery to another cash handlingdevice. Smart cartridges may be able to update in real-time via the RFIDtags upon identification with the cash handling device the cartridge isabout to service. Alternatively, smart cartridges may be equipped with aprocessor, memory and a transceiver for receiving and sending inventoryinformation and may communicate with either the cash handling deviceand/or a central processing center to determine cash to be withdrawninto or deposited by the smart cartridge.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the versatility of a universalcartridge according to aspects described herein. Universal cartridge 700may be removably inserted or attached to bank center cash recycler 705,client cash recycler 710, such as a cash recycler located at a retailstore, ATM 715 and vault cash handling equipment 720. Universalcartridge 700 may also be compatible with various other cash handlingdevices (not shown). In one example, cartridge 700 may be inserted intoone cash handling device (e.g., an ATM) and removed and inserted into adifferent cash handling device (e.g., point of sale) and may further beremoved and inserted into another different cash handling device (e.g.,bank cash recycling center) without any modification. Such a universalcartridge may save valuable time and effort otherwise required intransferring money from, for example, a cartridge within an ATM to adifferent and non-ATM compatible cartridge in a point-of-sale device. Inone configuration, cartridges may also be interchangeable with recyclingunits. For example, cartridge 215A and recycling unit 217A of FIG. 2 mayboth be universal cartridges (e.g., cartridge 700) and may only differin their respective role as part of the cash handling device 200.Interchangeability of cartridge 700 may allow cartridge 215A to beswapped with recycling unit 217A without modification. In otherarrangements, the cartridges may be exchanged between different cashrecycler, in addition to being exchanged with other cartridges withinthe same cash recycler.

Compatibility between cartridges and recycling units additionally mayallow for greater efficiency by financial institutions managing the cashrecycling devices. For example, cartridges such as cartridge 215B may beused at a more infrequent basis as compared to recycling unit 217A andthus may have less wear and tear with respect to slots, storage section,and other internal aspects. Cartridge 215B may be swapped with recyclingunit 217A when the internal aspects of recycling unit 217A have worndown such that the recycling unit 217A might not be suitable for usageas a recycling unit, but may still have functionality as a cartridge.Such a concept may be analogous to “rotating tires of a car” and mayassist in maximize the life of cartridges and recycling units.

In one aspect, the universal cartridge may also have a RFID reader oreditor which may edit information stored on the RFID tag to reflect anyadding or subtracting of funds from the cartridge. Such a function mayallow the cartridge information to be updated independently from a cashhandling machine and may be useful in situations where manual additionor subtraction of cash is performed.

In another aspect, universal cartridges might not necessarily beidentical to one another, although such a feature is certainly possible.In one aspect, cartridge Y fitting cash handling devices A-C may havefeatures different than another cartridge Z fitting cash handlingdevices A-C. For example, cartridge Y may be configured to be openedwhile cartridge Z might not be configured to be opened for increasedsecurity. However, both cartridges are universal as they both fit andcapably perform the functions required by cash handling devices A-C.Such a feature may, for example, allow older versions of cartridges toremain useful even when newer version of cartridges with upgrades arecirculated into usage.

Although not required, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, adata processing system, or as one or more computer-readable mediastoring computer-executable instructions. Accordingly, those aspects maytake the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Inaddition, various signals representing data or events as describedherein may be transferred between a source and a destination in the formof light and/or electromagnetic waves traveling throughsignal-conducting media such as metal wires, optical fibers, and/orwireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space).

Aspects of the invention have been described in terms of illustrativeembodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications andvariations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occurto persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of thisdisclosure. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that the steps illustrated in the illustrative figures may beperformed in other than the recited order, and that one or more stepsillustrated may be optional in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of managingfunds of cash handling devices comprising: receiving an indication thata surplus amount of cash is available at an automated teller machine(ATM) associated with a first account; receiving an indication that adeficient amount of cash is available at a point of sale deviceassociated with a second account; initiating removal from the ATM astorage apparatus that stores at least a portion of the cash availableat the ATM, wherein the storage apparatus is configured to be removablyinsertable into both the ATM and the point of sale device such that thestorage apparatus is enclosed within the ATM when inserted into the ATMand enclosed within the point of sale device when inserted into thepoint of sale device; updating information stored at an identifier tagof the storage apparatus to prepare the storage apparatus for insertioninto the point of sale device; debiting the first account associatedwith the ATM in response to receipt of an indication that the storageapparatus was removed from the ATM; and crediting the second accountassociated with the point of sale device in response to receipt of anindication that the storage apparatus was inserted into the point ofsale device.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein: receiving the indicationthat the surplus amount of cash is available at the ATM includesreceiving a surplus change order that indicates the ATM includes thesurplus amount of cash; and receiving the indication that the deficientamount of cash is available at the point of sale device includesreceiving a deficiency change order that indicates the point of saledevice includes the deficient amount of cash.
 3. The method of claim 1further comprising: monitoring the amount of cash available at the ATMand the amount of cash available at the point of sale device; receivingthe indication that the surplus amount of cash is available at the ATMincludes determining that the surplus amount of cash is available at theATM based on the monitored amount of cash at the ATM; and receiving theindication that the deficient amount of cash is available at the pointof sale device includes determining that the deficient amount of cash isavailable at the point of sale device based on the monitored amount ofcash at the point of sale device.
 4. The method of claim 1 whereinupdating the information included at the identifier tag includes atleast one of: indicating that the storage apparatus is scheduled forinsertion into the point of sale device; indicating an amount of cashstored in the storage apparatus; and identifying a replacement storageapparatus at the point of sale device that the storage apparatus fromthe ATM is scheduled to replace.
 5. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: preparing a transportation plan that identifies a firstplurality of cash handling devices having one or more respective storageapparatuses scheduled for removal and that identifies a second pluralityof cash handling devices having one or more respective storageapparatuses scheduled for replacement, wherein the ATM is one of thefirst plurality of cash handling devices and the point of sale device isone of the second plurality of cash handling devices; servicing thefirst plurality of cash handling devices and the second plurality ofcash handling devices based on the transportation plan; and wherein thetransportation plan identifies which storage apparatuses scheduled forremoval are intended to respectively replace which storage apparatusesscheduled for replacement.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:identifying in the transportation plan one or more of the storageapparatuses scheduled for removal as low priority; identifying in thetransportation plan one or more of the storage apparatuses scheduled forreplacement as high priority; and servicing cash handling devices havingone of the storage apparatuses identified as high priority beforeservicing cash handling devices having one or more storage apparatusesidentified as low priority.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:receiving real-time inventory information from one or more of thestorage apparatuses scheduled for removal or from one or more of thestorage apparatuses scheduled for replacement; and updating thetransportation plan based on the real-time inventory information.
 8. Asystem for managing funds of cash handling devices comprising: a firstcash handling device of a first type wherein the first cash handlingdevice is associated with a first account and a first amount of cash isavailable at the first cash handling device; a second cash handlingdevice of a second type wherein the second cash handling device isassociated with a second account and a second amount of cash isavailable at a the second cash handling device; a storage apparatusconfigured to be removably insertable into both the first cash handlingdevice of the first type and the second cash handling device of thesecond type such that the storage apparatus is enclosed within the firstcash handling device when inserted into the first cash handling deviceand enclosed within the second cash handling device when inserted intothe second cash handling device; wherein the storage apparatus stores atleast a portion of the cash available at the first cash handling devicesuch that the first amount of cash available at the first cash handlingdevice decreases and the second amount of cash available at the secondcash handling device increases when the storage apparatus is removedfrom the first cash handling device and inserted into the second cashhandling device; and wherein removal of the storage apparatus from thefirst cash handling device causes the first account to be debited andinsertion of the storage apparatus into the second cash handling devicecauses the second account to be credited.
 9. The system of claim 8further comprising: a central processing center that services the firstcash handling device and the second cash handling device; and whereinthe central processing center initiates removal of the storage apparatusfrom the first cash handling device and insertion of the storageapparatus into the second cash handling device in response to adetermination that the first amount of cash available at the first cashhandling device is a surplus amount of cash and that the second amountof cash available at the second cash handling device is a deficientamount of cash.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein: the first cashhandling device transmits to the central processing center a surpluschange order that indicates the first amount of cash is the surplusamount of cash; and the second cash handling device transmits to thecentral processing center a deficiency change order that indicates thesecond amount of cash is the deficient amount of cash.
 11. The system ofclaim 9 wherein: the central processing center monitors the first amountof cash available at the first cash handling device to determine thatthe first amount of cash is the surplus amount of cash; and the centralprocessing center monitors the second amount of cash available at thesecond cash handling device to determine that the second amount of cashis the deficient amount of cash.
 12. The system of claim 9 wherein: thecentral processing center prepares a transportation plan that identifiesa first plurality of cash handling devices having one or more respectivestorage apparatuses scheduled for removal and that identifies a secondplurality of cash handling devices having one or more respective storageapparatuses scheduled for replacement, wherein the first cash handlingdevice is one of the first plurality of cash handling devices and thesecond cash handling device is one of the second plurality of cashhandling devices; the central processing center initiates servicing ofthe first plurality of cash handling devices and the second plurality ofcash handling devices based on the transportation plan; and wherein thetransportation plan identifies which storage apparatuses scheduled forremoval are intended to respectively replace which storage apparatusesscheduled for replacement.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein one ormore of the storage apparatuses scheduled for removal are identified inthe transportation plan as low priority and one or more of the storageapparatus scheduled for replacement are identified in the transportationplan as high priority such that the cash handling devices having one ormore storage apparatuses identified as high priority are serviced beforethe cash handling devices having one or more storage apparatusesidentified as low priority are serviced.
 14. The system of claim 12wherein: one or more of the storage apparatuses scheduled for removal orone or more of the storage apparatuses scheduled for replacementtransmit real-time inventory information to the central processingcenter; and the central processing center updates the transportationplan based on the real-time inventory information received.
 15. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein: the central processing center updates a firstaccount associated with the first cash handling device in response to adetermination that the storage apparatus has been removed from the firstcash handling device; and the central processing center updates a secondaccount associated with the second cash handling device in response to adetermination that the storage apparatus has been inserted into thesecond cash handling device.
 16. The system of claim 8 wherein thestorage apparatus includes an identifier tag that stores informationassociated with the storage apparatus wherein the information stored atthe identifier tag is updateable when the storage apparatus is insertedinto the first cash handling device or the second cash handling device.17. The system of claim 16 wherein the information stored at theidentifier tag includes at least one of: information identifying whichcash handling device the storage apparatus is currently inserted into;information identifying which cash handling device the storage apparatusis scheduled to be inserted into; information indicating an amount ofcash stored in the storage apparatus; information identifying areplacement storage apparatus at the second cash handling device thatthe storage apparatus is intended to replace; and information indicatinga date and a time at which the storage apparatus was removed from one ofthe cash handling devices.
 18. The system of claim 8 wherein the firstcash handling device of the first type and the second cash handlingdevice of the second type are selected from the group consisting of: anautomated teller machine, a point of sale device, a bank center cashrecycler, a self-service payment cash handling device, a retaildeposit-only machine, a retail cash recycler, a vending machine, and aretail deposit-only smart safe.
 19. A method of managing funds of cashhandling devices comprising: receiving an indication that a surplusamount of cash is available at a first cash handling device of a firsttype wherein the first cash handling device is associated with a firstaccount; receiving an indication that a deficient amount of cash isavailable at a second cash handling device of a second type wherein thesecond cash handling device is associated with a second account;initiating removal from the first cash handling device a storageapparatus that stores at least a portion of the cash available at thefirst cash handling device, wherein the storage apparatus is configuredto be removably insertable into both the first cash handling device ofthe first type and the second cash handling device of the second typesuch that the storage apparatus is enclosed within the first cashhandling device when inserted into the first cash handling device andenclosed within the second cash handling device when inserted into thesecond cash handling device; debiting the first account in response to adetermination that the storage apparatus has been removed from the firstcash handling device; crediting the second account in response to adetermination that the storage apparatus has been inserted in the secondcash handling device; and wherein the cash stored in the storageapparatus increases the deficient amount of cash available at the secondcash handling device when the storage apparatus is inserted into thesecond cash handling device.
 20. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising updating information stored at an identifier tag of thestorage apparatus to prepare the storage apparatus for insertion intothe second cash handling device.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein thefirst cash handling device is associated with a first account and thesecond cash handling device is associated with a second account andfurther comprising: debiting the first account in response to receipt ofan indication that the storage apparatus was removed from the first cashhandling device; and crediting the second account in response to receiptof an indication that the storage apparatus was inserted into the secondcash handling device.
 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the first cashhandling device of the first type and the second cash handling device ofthe second type are selected from the group consisting of: an automatedteller machine, a point of sale device, a bank center cash recycler, aself-service payment cash handling device, a retail deposit-onlymachine, a retail cash recycler, a vending machine, and a retaildeposit-only smart safe.